Boat construction



Nov. ll, 1952 w. H. EVANS 2,617,376

BOAT CONSTRUCTION Filed Deo. 27, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov., 11, 1952 w. H. VANS 1 A2,617,376

BOAT CONSTRUCTION Filed Deo. 27. 1948 .3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

. v/0 -Wl-Iiam HEvans 44 l E g Nov. 1l, 1952 w. H. EVANS 2,617,376

BOAT CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 27, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 i 37 ,P296 f I 32 7 L, Z6 MJ I v a 9 I s z 37 l e F29; 7

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8 William H. Evans BY Zw ,5,7 gw ,L uw v 2F55 Patented Nov. 11, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOAT CONSTRUCTION William H. Evans, Miami Beach, Fla. Application December 27, 1948, Serial No. 67,377

9 Claims.

My invention relates to a boat construction. It relates more in particular to a boat, the deck of which is substantially stabilized against movement normally imparted to the hull by water action.

In my copending applications Serial No. 620,887, led on October 8, 1945, issued on April 5, 1949 as Patent No. 2,446,164, and Serial No. 776,225, filed on September 26, 1947, I disclosed a boat construction in which a deck assembly is supported for universal movement with respect to a hull and in which, by means including a gyroscope associated with the deck, the deck is maintained substantially horizontal regardless of movement of the hull. While the boats there disclosed have certain denite advantages, I find that for certain types of boats and under certain circumstances there may be an advantage in a construction in which the support between the deck and hull is of the same universal pivot type, but in which hydraulic means controlled by a stabilizing element such as a gyroscope is utilized to hold the deck substantially stationary as the hull moves in response to forces imparted to it by wind and wave. My improved combination makes it possible to mount a relatively small gyrocope for universal movement with respect to the hull, so that regardless of any extremes of movement, the gyroscope will not be moved from its axis, and by then using the resulting relative movement between the gyroscope and hull to control hydraulic levelling means associated with a deck assembly, or part thereof, to maintain the same substantially stable regardless of the movement of the hull.

The principal object of my linvention is the provision of an improved boat construction in which a deck assembly r the like is stabilized against movement which would normally be imparted to it by the hull.

Another object is the provision of gyroscopically controlled hydraulic means for maintaining a level deck.

In the drawings I show one embodiment of my invention in which Y Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a relatively small pleasure craft of the type with which my invention may be used to advantage,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 looking inthe direction of the arrows,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view generally along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 but showing only the parts iIlYQlved ,in the gyroscopic control,

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4, but showing the parts in a modied position,

Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged transverse sectional views showing two positions of the parts, the views coinciding generally with those shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and

Fig. 8 is a partly schematic view showing the hydraulic system.

In the drawings the hull is identilied generally by the reference character Il] and the deck by the reference character I I, these numerals being employed to identify also parts of the hull or deck assemblies where necessary to indicate relative movement and functioning of the mechanism. A yoke I2 comprising a plurality of uprights, as shown particularly in Figs. 2, 4, and 5, is supported on the hull I0 and carries a ball I 3 at its upper end on which the deck II is universally supported. The deck proper comprises frame members I fi and the frame members carry upper and lower bearing members I6 and I 'l which are secured together around the ball I3 and form a universal pivot, the members I6 and I'l thereby engaging more than half of the ball so that the dec" cannot be raised off of the ball regardless of the forces involved.

The hull carries a plate i8 with uprights I9 to which a pair of cylinders 2| are universally pivoted, and the cylinders Vare provided with rams 22, the ends of which are universally pivotally secured to the frame members `I/i. The pair of cylinders and their rams 22 are located on opposite sides of the central universal pivot I3 transversely 'or laterally of the hull II), the cylinders and rams being substantially horizontal when the hull is level. A second pair of cylinders 2Ia having rams 22al are located longitudinally fore and aft of the central universal pivot I3, these cylinders being substantially vertical when the hull I 9 is level. 'The cylinders 2Ia are universally pivoted to the hull le and the rams 22a are universally pivoted to the deck II. The various cylinders and rams onerate to maintain the deck Il level regardless of the pitch and roll of 4the hull I0,`the transverse cylinders 2| and rams 22 taking care of the roll and the fore and aft cylinders Zla and rams 22a. taking care of the pitch. Figs. 4 and'5 show only the pair of transverse hydraulic cylinders for taking care of the roll of the hull. The purpose of locating the transverse cylinders substantially horizontal is to provide maximum roll compensation for minimum head room between the hull I0 and deck I I. To prevent turning of the deck I I with respect to the hull I0, the hull is provided adjacent its ends with a pair of channel guides 50 for receiving rollers carried by the ends of the deck II. With this arrangement it will be obvious that by pumping hydraulic fluid into the proper cylinders and a1- lowing hydraulic fluid to flow out of the oppositely positioned cylinders, the support between the hull and deck assemblies may be so maintained that the deck will be held in substantially a horizontal position. A double acting hydraulic system in which hydraulic uid can be moved to either side of a piston may in some respects be considered the equivalent of a straight single acting ram, but I prefer the use of hydraulic means such that the hydraulic support provided by the deck and hull functions like a lengthening column or hydraulic jack to shore up the deck at that side of the pivot in which it would normally move downwardly with movement of the hull. The system must also function to provide for flow of hydraulic fluid to provide such support, but to discontinue the flow of hydraulic fluidas soon as relative movement has discontinued. Those skilled in the art will understand that if the mechanism functioned only to open a hydraulic valve when the hull would roll or pitch in one direction,;hydrau lic iiuid would continue to flow as long as the rolling or pitching attitude was maintained, and the result might be to tip the deck in an opposite direction. It is essential, therefore, when the valve has been opened in response to relative movement of the deck and hull, that the valve -be closed as soon as vsuch movement has been discontinued.

Secured to the hull is a frame 23 supporting a gyroscope device 24 comprising a gyroscope wheel 26 on a shaft 21 .driven by an electric motor 28. The gyroscope device is conveniently mounted on crossed trunnions to have universal movement with respect to its said support 23. The function of the gyroscope is to control a valve or valves 29 having a sliding control shaft 3l. The valves 29 are mounted on a housing 32 secured to the ,plate I8 and, therefore, comprise a part of and move with the hull and parts associated with the hull. One valve 26 which is located transversely of the vhull I0, as shown in Figs. 3 to 7, controls the supply of hydraulic fluid to and from the transverse cylinders 2| for roll control. The other valve (not shown), which is located longitudinally of the hull I0, controls the supply of hydraulic fluid to and from the fore and aft cylinders 2Ia for pitch control. Referring now to that valve 29 which provides roll control, a bell crank lever 33 has one end pivoted -to the control shaft 3I of the valve 29 and the other pivoted to an upper control link 34 which, in turn, is pivoted to control rod 36. The control rod 36 is part of a telescoping rod which is pivoted to the housing 32 by a universal pivot 31 and has `its opposite end universally pivotally connected to the framework I4 or any other `part of the deck assembly. An intermediate control link 38 Vhas one end pivoted to the center of the bell crank control lever 33 and the other end pivoted to the gyroscope assembly. The link construction described functions in the manner of a follow-up system to operate the valve 29 and permit flow of hydraulic fluid, Abut to limit the ow to the volume needed to maintain the predetermined equilibrium of the deck. The functioning is complex and compound, as will be understood, but the principle is as follows. As soon as there is a movement of the lhull assembly, assuming it to be rolling to the right looking at Fig. 4, the gyroscope and hull will be tilted with respect to each other in the manner shown in Fig. 5. The rst effect of such movement is for the arm 38 to pull the bell crank control lever 33 toward the left causing it to pivot about the connection to the link 34 because in the beginning of this movement the rod 36 remains vertical and the link 34 does not move. This means in effect that there is a slight tilting of the deck with the hull, and this is just enough to Cause this relative movement. As soon as there has been hydraulic flow into the functioning cylinder 2I to restore the deck to level, there begins to be a movement yabout the ball I3, that is to say, to establish a relationship between the hull and deck assembly in which the former is tilted but the latter retains its original stable position. This movement then moves the rod 36 to an angular position drawing on link 34 and resulting in the pivoting of the lever 33 about the intermediate link 38, with the result that rod 3I is returned and the valve is closed. As the boat continues to roll or pitch, however, the deck never quite catches up and there is always an added movement caused .by the drawing action of the link 38 such as to open the valve so that the valve will be retained in an open position as long as the movement continues and will only be closed when the hull has reached its extreme of movement and the deck has been maintained in true horizontal position.

With further reference to the functioning of the follow-up mechanism, Fig. 4 illustrates the position of the parts when the hull is at rest in quiet water and the deck is stationary. It will be noted that under these circumstances the control rod 3I of the valve is in'position to maintain the valve closed and no movement of hydraulic fluid into the cylinders 2I is occurring. In Fig. 5 the parts are represented in what we may presume to be an extreme of movement and the lever 33 has pivoted around the two links 34 and 38 but is in a position to hold the rod 3l out just slightly, if hydraulic fluid is flowing into the left-hand cylinder 2| and the lever 33 is about t0 be further pivoted about the link 3B to finally return the valve to normal and stop further hydraulic flow. It will thus be seen that regardless of the relative positions of the parts with respect to movement of the deck and hull, the valve 29 can be held in neutral position.

It will be understood that many types of hydraulic systems and control mechanisms may be employed with my invention so long as the essential principles thereof are followed. In Fig. 8 I show a partly schematic diagram in which there is a hydraulic pump 4I which pumps hydraulic fluid 42 through a pipe 43 and delivers the same under pressure to a pipe 44. The pipe 44 leads to the valve 29 which continues connections 46 and 41 to the cylinders 2I and a connection 48 back to the sump 42. I have not illustrated in detail the construction of the valve, except generally in Figs. 6 and "I, but it is well known that many types of valves may be used and there are any number of constructions in which aslide valve element may be employed to deliver `fluid to either the line 46 or 41 or at its neutral position to a line 48. Such valves are manufactured by the Racine Tool and Manufacturing Company, of Racine, Wisconsin, and others. In the operation of the type of system shown in Fig. 8, the pump continuously with- 5,. draws hydraulic iluid from the sump 42 and delivers the same to the valve 29. When this valve is in neutral position, the hydraulic fluid is by-passed through pipe 48 back into the sump and the hydraulic fluid in lines 46 and 41 is maintained because of the closing of the valve structures. When the valve moves to the right, it delivers hydraulic uid under pressure to the line 47 and to cylinder 2| and at the same time a port is opened to permit ilow of fluid from the opposite cylinder 2| through the line 46. It will be observed that this pumping action and control take place regardless of the resulting position of the deck and hull at which the valve is opened or closed. The valve (not shown) which controls the supply of hydraulic fluid to the fore and aft cylinders 2Ia is in all respects like the valve 29 illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7, it is operated in the same manner from the hull, deck and gyroscope, it is incorporated in the same hydraulic system and it functions in the same way to provide pitch control.

I have not described many of the details and features of construction which may be employed, particularly with respect to the mounting of engines, the drive therefor, etc., because so far as these details are concerned structural arrangements employed in my prior copending applications may be followed.

It should be remembered that while I refer to a deck assembly and in the drawings disclose a construction in which the deck assembly includes substantially the entire deck section of a small ocean-going craft such as is used for fishing and the like, the deck assembly may comprise only a small portion of the deck or a deck disposed on a different level than the main deck such as occurs in the case of vessels of larger size. Because of the arrangement of the universal pivot and hydraulic supporting means, it is not essential that the main weight of the deck assembly be below the point of pivot although in some instances this may be of advantage. It should also be borne in mind that in some respects the follow-up system which I employ is a refinement which in many instances need not be employed, it being suicient merely to open a valve in response to movement of the hull in one direction or another. The particular follow-up system which I disclose functions to adjust the valve to neutral position when the gyroscope and deck assemblies have the same angularity with respect to the hull assembly, whether this be a situation in which the hull is stationary and completely at rest without tipping, or when the hull is tipped to its maximum extent. While the mechanism which I show is a relatively simple expedient for making the valve responsive to the relative angularity of the gyroscope assembly (or other level maintaining device) and deck assembly with respect to the hull, other functionally equivalent mechanical linkages may be employed.

I have described my invention in detail so that those skilled in the art may understand the same, but its scope is dened by the claims.

I claim:

1. A boat comprising a hull, a deck assembly, means for supporting said deck assembly with respect to said hull on a universal pivot, a plurality of hydraulic cylinder and piston assemblies interconnecting said hull and deck assembly .around said pivot, a gyroscope directly supported on the hull on a universal pivot and means responsive to relative movement between the gyroscope, deck and hull for delivering hydraulic fluid to said hydraulic means to maintain the deck assembly substantially level, said means including a hydraulic pump, valve means carried directly on the hull controlling flow of fluid from said pump to said hydraulic cylinders, and a controlling connection between said valve means, deck and gyroscope.

2. A boat comprising a hull, a deck assembly, means for supporting the deck assembly with respect to the hull on a universal pivot, a plurality of hydraulic cylinders and pistons interconnecting said hull and deck assembly around said pivot, a gyroscope directly supported on the hull on a universal pivot, a valve carried directly by the hull having an adjustable member projecting therefrom, a pump delivering hydraulic fluid to said valve, a pipe connection from said valve to at least one hydraulic cylinder, a mechanical linkage between the gyroscope and said adjustable valve member to move the latter and admit fluid from the valve to the cylinderv in response to relative movement between the said gyroscope and hull, and a second mechanical linkage between the deck and the adjustable valve member to move said adjustable member 1n a direction to close said valve, said second mechanical linkage being so constructed and arranged as to close said valve when relative movement between the deck and hull ceases.

3. A boat comprising a hull, a deck assembly, means for supporting the deck assembly with respect to the hull on a universal pivot, a plurality of hydraulic cylinders and pistons interconnecting said hull and deck assembly around said pivot, a gyroscope directly supported on the hull on a universal pivot, a valve carried directly by the hull having an adjustable member projecting therefrom, a pump delivering hydraulic fluid to said valve, a pipe connection from said valve to at least one hydraulic cylinder, a lever having one end connected to said adjustable member, a link having one end connected to the gyroscope and the other connected to said lever intermediate its ends, a control rod pivoted at one end to the deck assembly and at a point intermediate its ends to the hull, and a link interconnecting the remaining end of said control rod and the remaining end of said lever, movement by said first-mentioned link urging said control member in one direction, and movement by said second link urging control member in an opposite direction.

4. A boat comprising a hull, a deck assembly, means for supporting the deck assembly on the hull on a universal pivot, a pair of hydraulic cylinders and piston assemblies aligned longitudinally of the hull and located on opposite sides of the pivot and connected between said hull and deck assembly, a pair of hydraulic cylinder and piston assemblies aligned laterally of the hull and located on opposite Vsides of the pivot and interconnecting the hull and deck assembly, a gyroscope directly supported on the hull on a universal pivot, a hydraulic valve carried directly on the hull for each such pair of cylinder and piston assemblies, means for delivering hydraulic fluid to such valve, said valve having a control member shaped to bypass fluid at its center position and to bleed one cylinder of the pair and deliver fluid to the other when moved on either side of center position, a connection between the gyroscope and control member responsive to relative position of the hull and gyroscope to admit fluid to such cylinder as will tend to maintain the deck level, and a connection between the deck assembly and said control member so constructed and arranged as to interrupt flow of fluid to said cylinder when relative movement between the deck and hull ceases.

5. A boat comprising a hull, a deck assembly, means for supporting the deck assembly on the hull on a universal pivot, a pair of hydraulic cylinder and piston assemblies aligned laterally of the hull and located on opposite sides of the pivot interconnecting the hull and deck assembly, a gyroscope directly supported on the hull on a universal pivot, a hydraulic valve directly carried on the hull, means for delivering hydraulic iluid to said valve, said valve having a control member shaped to bypass fluid when in a central position and to bleed one cylinder and deliver fluid to the other when moved on either side of said central position, a control lever having one end pivoted to said control member, a link having one end pivoted to the gyroscope and its other end pivoted to said lever intermediate its ends, and a connection between the deck assembly and the other end of said lever.

6. A boat comprising a hull, a deck assembly, means for supporting the deck assembly on the hull on a universal pivot, a pair of hydraulic cylinder and piston assemblies aligned laterally of the hull and located on opposite sides of the pivot interconnecting the hull and deck assembly, a gyrosoope directly supported on the hull on a universal pivot, a hydraulic valve directly carried on the hull, means for delivering hydraulic fluid to said valve, said valve having a control member shaped to bypass fluid when in a central position and to bleed one cylinder and deliver fluid to the other when moved on either side of said central position, a control lever having one end pivoted to said control member, a link having one end pivoted to the gyroscope and its other end pivoted to said lever intermediate its ends, a control rod pivoted at one end to the deck assembly and at a point intermediate its ends to the hull, and a link interconnecting 'the remaining end of the control rod and the remaining end of said control lever.

7. A boat comprising a hull, a deck assembly, a universal pivot for universally supporting said deck assembly on said hull, a plurality of hydraulic cylinders and piston assemblies interconnecting said hull and deck assembly around said pivot, a gyroscope directly supported on the hull on a universal pivot, and valve control means operatively associated with said hydraulic cylinders and said gyroscope, hull and deck assembly and responsive to relative movement between the gyroscope, hull and deck assembly for delivering hydraulic fluid to said hydraulic cylinders to maintain said deck assembly substantially level.

8. A boat comprising a hull, a deck assembly, a universal pivot for universally supporting said deck assembly on said hull, a rst pair of hydraulic cylinders and piston assemblies aligned longitudinally of the hull and arranged fore and aft of said universal pivot and interconnecting said hull and deck assembly, a second pair of hydraulic cylinder and piston assemblies aligned transversely of the hull and arranged on opposite sides of said universal pivot and interconnecting said hull and deck assembly, a gyroscope directly supported on the hull on a universal pivot, and Valve control means operatively associated with said pairs of hydraulic cylnders and said gyroscope, hull and deck assembly and responsive to relative movement between the gyroscope, hull and deck assembly for delivering hydraulic fluid to said hydraulic cylinders to maintain said deck assembly substantially level.

9. A boat comprising a hull, a deck assembly, a universal pivot for universally supporting said deck assembly on said hull, said deck assembly having a part extending downwardly below said universal pivot, a rst pair of hydraulic cylinders and piston assemblies aligned longitudinally of the hull and arranged substantially vertically fore and ait of said universal pivot and interconnecting said hull and deck assembly, a second pair of hydraulic cylinders and piston assemblies aligned transversely of the hull and arranged substantially horizontally and on opposite sides of said universal pivot and interconnecting said hull and said downwardly extending part of the deck assembly, a gyroscope directly supported on the hull on a universal pivot, and Valve control means operatively associated with said hydraulic cylinders and said gyroscope, hull and deck assembly and responsive to relative movement between the gyroscope, hull and deck assembly for delivering hydraulic fluid to said hydraulic cylinders to maintain said deck assembly substantially level.

WILLIAM H. EVANS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,490,904 Anders Apr. 22, 1924 1,558,567 Schein Oct. 27, 1925 1,731,776 Henry Oct, 15, 1929 1,765,405 De Long June 24, 1930 1,869,247 Lucas-Girardville July 26, 1932 2,206,100 Mehan et al. July 2, 1940 2,339,508 Newell Jan. 18, 1944 2,381,161 Lynn Aug. 7, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 3,661 Great Britain 1872 106,043 France Dec, 10, 1874 366,488 France July 28, 1906 '786,808 France June 17, 1935 

